*This position is open until filled. Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the position based on the number of applications received.** 
The City of Palm Desert provides exemplary and sustainable services, amenities and programs for the benefit of the local and surrounding communities. When you interact with a City employee, you will find our collaborative, driven and efficient staff working together to provide strategic solutions for the community and each other. We are a city focused on external and internal customer service and try to find a way to say “yes,” while not compromising the City’s or our own integrity.Our efforts are guided by our core values:

• Integrity 
• Stewardship 
• Service 
• Community 
• Innovation 
• Teamwork

Our employees are passionate about innovation, collaboration and growth, which is supported by the City’s Council and Executive Team. We are an environment that thrives on making changes, pivoting quickly, and is full of movers and shakers. We are constantly striving to improve processes and better our approach so that we can better support the needs of the City. If you have growth mindset and find change exciting, the City of Palm Desert may be your ideal working environment!  

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Department of Development Services in the City of Palm Desert is searching for a highly motivated and experienced Associate Engineer who can efficiently manage and lead projects. The candidate will oversee various engineering projects, including designing, constructing, and maintaining public infrastructure. The candidate should have exceptional communication, leadership, and project management skills and be able to collaborate with other stakeholders, including contractors, developers, and government officials.
 The selected Associate Engineer will play a vital role in ensuring that the Department provides high-quality public works services to the residents of Palm Desert and the development community.
Under general direction, performs professional civil engineering field and office work related to the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of assigned projects, traffic engineering, development projects and studies, and capital projects and improvements; prepares specifications and conducts inspections of assigned projects; serves as project manager for assigned projects; and performs related work as required.
 
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
 Receives general supervision from assigned supervisory or management staff. Exercises no direct supervision over staff.
This is the fully qualified journey-level classification in the professional engineering series. Incumbents are expected to perform the full range of professional engineering work in addition to providing project management and administration. Positions at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the work unit. This class is distinguished from the Senior Engineer in that the latter is the advanced level in the professional engineering classification series that manages complex CIP and public works projects.

• Manages and provides technical support in all phases of engineering projects including planning, design, construction, and close-out; performs basic project management activities, including preparing preliminary designs and specifications, developing requests for proposals, cost estimates, work plans, budgets, schedules, and baseline requirements and contract negotiations and management; reviews the work of consultants and contractors; ensures compliance with specifications; recommends modifications; reviews and approves payment requests.
• Conducts engineering studies for assigned projects; performs civil engineering cost analyses; prepares and/or reviews the adequacy and accuracy of engineering calculations and estimates, preliminary layouts and specifications, and design work from field and survey data. 
• Performs engineering design work by researching data, conducting surveys and engineering analysis of alternatives, and determining design criteria in accordance with required standards and codes. 
• Reviews Environmental Impact Reports (EIR) and other California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) documents related to projects; makes recommendations for conditions based on the impact to the City.
• Validates and reviews land development projects pertaining to the design, construction, and maintenance of development projects; checks and approves plans for conformance with regulations regarding line, grade, size, elevation, and location of structures; establishes conditions of approval including on-site and off-site improvements and financial obligations; ensures technical correctness and projects conform to City standards, legal and regulatory requirements, and outside agency requirements.
• Prepares and reviews traffic control and signal plans; including traffic safety and neighborhood traffic circulation studies.
• Reviews and processes legal descriptions, maps, specifications, and various engineering and technical documents.
• Conducts field inspections to ensure conformance with design and specifications. 
• Prepares, reviews, and approves solicitation documents (e.g., Requests for Proposals, Requests for Quotes, Scopes of Work, and Construction Specifications), coordinates bid process, develops recommendations for consultant/contractor selection, and administers contracts and agreements.
• Prepares and presents technical project and staff reports for various committees, commissions, and at public meetings and hearings. 
• Collaborates and confers with developers, engineers, architects, and contractors and other City staff in acquiring information and coordinating engineering matters; provides information regarding City project requirements and City policies, procedures, codes, and ordinances. 
• Prepares staff reports, other relevant reports, and necessary correspondence; present information and staff reports to outside agencies and City Council; conducts a variety of organizational studies, investigations, and operational studies; may recommend modifications to programs, policies, and procedures as appropriate.
• Attends meetings, conferences, workshops, and training sessions; attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of engineering. 
• Responds to public inquiries; investigates citizen complaints relating to public work issues; provides staff with recommendations for resolving issues and complaints. 
• Establishes positive working relationships with representatives of community organizations, state/local agencies, City management and staff, and the public.
• Provide exceptional and professional customer service internally and externally; may respond to and resolve difficult and sensitive inquiries and complaints.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:
 

• Advanced civil engineering principles, practices, and methods.
• Principles and practices of project budgeting, cost estimation, funding, project management, and contract administration.
• Methods, materials, and techniques used in the construction of public works projects.
• Advanced principles, practices, procedures, and standards related to City public works, engineering infrastructure development and maintenance, and surveying.
• General design, layout, and construction practices for public improvements such as streets, storm drains, grading, and landscaping.
• Subdivision engineering, plan review, mapping, and construction practices.
• Engineering plan types, review practices, and permit filing and approval procedures.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, and City policies and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility.
• Principles of advanced mathematics and their application to engineering work.
• Practices of researching engineering and design issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations, and preparing effective staff reports.
• Recent and on-going engineering related developments, including information technology, current literature, and sources of information related to the operations of assigned area of responsibility.
• Modern office practices, procedures, technology, and computer equipment and applications.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.

Ability to:
 

• Recommend and implement work plans and effectively manage engineering projects and project teams.
• Apply engineering principles and techniques to evaluate and solve civil engineering problems.
• Prepare, understand, and interpret engineering construction plans, technical drawings and designs, specifications, and other contract documents.
• Independently conduct engineering studies and research projects, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare effective staff and technical reports.
• Design engineering projects. 
• Perform mathematical and engineering computations with precision. 
• Make engineering design computations and check, design, and prepare engineering plans and studies.
• Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed.
• Analyze, interpret, summarize, and present technical engineering information and data in an effective manner.
• Effectively represent the department and the City in meetings with the media, governmental agencies, community groups, and various businesses, professional, and regulatory organizations, and in meetings with individuals.
• Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, and other written materials.
• Establish and maintain a variety of filing, record keeping, and tracking systems.
• Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines. 
• Effectively use computer systems, software, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. 
• Education and Experience:
  Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
   
  Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in civil engineering or a related engineering field, and two (2) years of professional engineering design, plan review, and project administration experience, preferably in a public agency setting.
   
  Licenses and Certifications:
   
  • Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Driver’s License by time of appointment and a satisfactory driving record.
  • Possession of an Engineer-In-Training certificate in the State of California.
  • Preferred possession of and maintain a valid certificate or registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of California.
  • PHYSICAL DEMANDS 
  • Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer, to inspect City development sites, including traversing uneven terrain, climbing ladders, stairs, and other temporary or construction access points, to operate a motor vehicle, and to visit various City and meeting sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone. This is primarily a sedentary office classification although standing and walking between work areas and to conduct inspections may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects weighing up to. Reasonable accommodations will be made for individuals on a case-by-case basis.
     
    ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
     
    Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may work in the field and occasionally be exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, road hazards, vibration, mechanical and/or electrical hazards, and hazardous physical substances and fumes. Employees may interact with members of the public or with staff under emotionally stressful conditions while interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.